Hibs boss Neil Lennon says side is lacking in quality after derby day defeat

NEIL LENNON last night slammed the lack of quality that saw Hibs crash to defeat in the Edinburgh derby.

The Hibees struck the woodwork twice from distance and threw countless crosses into the box as they aimed to end 2018 with a win.

But nothing went their way – leaving their manager calling for funds to add to his squad in January.

“I think we were unlucky,” he said.

“It didn’t go for us. Hearts scored a great goal then we bombarded them in the second half.

“Steven’s shot, you think it’s going in. It’s just the width of a coat of paint really.

“I’m not unhappy with the way we played, we just lacked quality at times in the final third.

“That has been apparent in the first half of the season.

“We lack a bit of creativity and a little bit of pace.”

He added: “We do have a raft of injuries but I’m not going to make excuses because I don’t think we deserved to lose the game.

“It wasn’t a poor performance by any means and the game could have gone either way.

“It’s hard to take at any time, especially when you’ve competed so well.

“You know what I’m like – I don’t like losing.

“That’s only our second defeat at home in a year.

“But we need to add to the squad, we need some quality in because that’s what we’re lacking at the moment.

“Some players aren’t playing anywhere near as well as they can.”

Scott Allan was an attendee at Easter Road, leading to suspicions that the Celtic man could be about to sign up for a third spell with Hibs.

Lennon batted the suggestion away with minimal fuss, insisting he wasn’t aware of Allan’s presence.

But his comments about the lack of quality from his side seemed barbed – and telegraphed a desire to shake up his squad.

“We worked the ball into good areas but we’ve put the ball in in hope rather than expectation,” he said.

“We didn’t make the most of promising areas we worked the ball into.

“That’s been affecting us, I think, for the last couple of months anyway.”